Naruto drove them to Teuchi's place and grinned proudly at the man and his daughter as he took out the date coupon the chef gave him when he started attending Konoha.

Teuchi stared – and Ayame blinked – but they did not say anything as they prepared their ramen.

Kakashi picked a table draped in shadows, far from seeking eyes and keen ears, and Naruto sat next to him – as close as he could – and held his hand. This time, the man did not protest or stare, confused. Instead, he held his hand just as firmly, caressing the knuckles with his thumb, and Naruto wondered if he should tell him that when he was young, all he wanted was for someone to hold his hand; that even Iruka refused to touch him, accusing him of staining his clothes with paint.

He told him it was a prank and grinned so wide he felt his face might split in two. He did not want them to see him cry.

All he wanted was for someone to touch him, to hold him, to love him –

"Hey," Kakashi murmured, caressing his cheek with his free hand. "What's wrong?"

Naruto shook his head. He lifted Kakashi's hand and kissed the rough skin, holding the hand against his heart. "Nothing," he mumbled. "Just… happy to be here, with you." He grinned and leaned his head on Kakashi's shoulder.

Kakashi bowed his head and kissed his forehead in response. He hmmed, so Naruto knew his answer did not convince him, but he had enough of his past for one day.

Ayame brought them their food and disappeared with a smile instead of staying to chat, for which Naruto was thankful. He stabbed his chopsticks into Kakashi's dish and slurped. His victorious grin disappeared, however, when he saw Kakashi slurping his own order nonchalantly.

"Hey!" he protested, reaching for the bowl, but Kakashi held it above his head and cocked a brow in response. Naruto scowled at the humorous glint, grabbed a bunch of noodles with his chopsticks, and shoved them into Kakashi's mouth.

The man coughed and swallowed with difficulty, his tongue touching a sore spot where Naruto jabbed him with the chopsticks. He growled when Naruto attempted the same move again – and leaned down and kissed him.

Naruto leaned forward into his touch, savoring the taste of the ramen and the softness of Kakashi's kiss, and frowned when Kakashi slowly moved back –

He opened his eyes, a protest at the ready, to find Kakashi's chopsticks touching his lips. The man held them patiently, and Naruto, cheeks burning, slurped the noodles into his mouth.

Kakashi hummed and replaced the bowls. "I think we might give Teuchi a heart attack," he commented offhandedly. "Treating his ramen like that."

Naruto blinked. He bumped his shoulder against Kakashi's. "You stole my ramen," he accused.

"You ate mine."

"I wanted to see what it tasted like!"

"Again?"

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I'm not half-animal. I don't have… flavor memory, or something."

Kakashi fished a pork slice and held it out for Naruto. The teen glanced up at him and accepted the offering, grinning as he chewed.

"I don't either," he said. "I remember scents." He chewed thoughtfully. "My sense of taste got worse, actually."

Naruto blinked. "Really? S'that a thing?"

Kakashi nodded. "There was a time I feared I'd lose the ability to see colors," he admitted. "But it usually returns about an hour or so after I transform back."

The teen lifted his hand and caressed his cheek. He leaned against him. "What do I smell like?"

"Ramen," the man replied dryly. "Honey, from the soap." He sniffed Naruto's hair, sending shivers down his spine. "Warm and bright, like the sun," he murmured, his voice deep and rich. "Sharp, like a storm." He nosed at Naruto's burning cheeks. "Heady and sweet when you're aroused. Like now."

Naruto scowled and shoved Kakashi's face away from his. "Fuck off," he snapped. "You were supposed to say romantic stuff." He glowered at his food. "N' you don't like sweet things," he mumbled, swallowing his disappointment.

Kakashi hmmed and ruffled his hair, which didn't do much. "I told you, you are my exception," he said offhandedly and slurped his dish.

Naruto's eyes widened when the man finished his meal and reached under the table. His fingers curled around his palm, his thumb again brushing the knuckles, and Naruto exhaled weakly when he realized Kakashi grabbed his hand so he could hold it.

He slurped his dish, hiding a soft smile, and blinked in surprise when he felt Kakashi nuzzling at his neck. "You smell like summer when you're happy," he whispered. His voice was gravelly and raw. "I missed your scent."

"Weirdo," Naruto said affectionately. He squeezed the hand holding his. "I missed all of you," he declared.

The man hmmed and angled his head away. Naruto wanted to protest – but then Teuchi appeared, carrying a kettle and two teacups. He put them on the shadowed table, smiled, and walked away.

Naruto leaned into the man's warmth. His breath eased when, just after Teuchi walked far enough and they were hidden from prying eyes once again, Kakashi cupped his cheek, tilted his head up, and kissed him.

He could almost hear Kakashi murmuring that he missed him, too.


Naruto drove them back, clearly eager to show off his improved driving (or perhaps, simply reveling in denying Kakashi the chance to drive his old car). Kakashi leaned back, content to simply watch the excited teen.

Full of mysteries, that one. Holding hands and gifting paintings, small acts of reciprocated kindness, and a past full of mines. Kakashi helped him pack, amused by Naruto's choices ("But what if I won't like the food? Maybe they don't have ramen.") and set the clock to an ungodly hour in the morning. They prepared for bed, standing side by side, and returned to Naruto's room.

The teen looked eager and nervous, grinning but also keeping his distance.

Kakashi huffed. He took off Naruto's shirt – just a bit too tight – and pants, and Naruto ran to join him, hugging him from behind. Kakashi hummed. "Bed, Naruto."

The teen bit his shoulder. "M'not a dog," he protested and tightened his hold.

He did not move, so Kakashi tangled their hands, caressing his fingers. "Would you rather I transform?" he asked quietly.

"No!" Naruto protested, blushing against his shoulder blades. "I just wanna feel you," he mumbled to his skin. "Ass," he added, embarrassed.

Kakashi eased the teen's grip, lifted his hands, and kissed them. As expected, Naruto relaxed immediately, melting against him, and led him to his bed.

One day, he will convince Naruto to tell him why holding hands was so important to him.

Kakashi lay on his back and guided the teen into his arms, holding him against his chest, and caressed his hair. It felt like all those other times he held Naruto's spectral form and yet so distinctively different. Naruto was warm, solid, soft to the touch, and smelled like summer. He did not feel like a dream.

Kakashi traced his thumb on Naruto's spine, exploring the ridges, and Naruto nosed at his collarbone in response. "I'm sitting next to the window," he declared suddenly, hugging Kakashi's waist.

The man hmmed. "I did not imagine otherwise," he teased. "I pre-ordered the kid's meal for you."

"What?!" Naruto protested. He jumped up, leaning on Kakashi's shoulders, and glared. "I'm not a kid! Why would you – why are you laughing, you jerk?" He tried to keep his voice threatening and angry, but confusion overtook him. "Oi," he added, squeezing his shoulders.

Kakashi chuckled. He lifted his hand to caress the teen's cheek. "I was just teasing, Naruto," he said quietly. "The flight is only five hours long. The most you'll get is a bag of pretzels."

Naruto scowled. He looked embarrassed, and his scowl darkened as he looked away.

"Come here," Kakashi murmured and tightened his hold on his hair and waist, guiding him back into his arms. Naruto obeyed, but his body remained stiff and unyielding, so Kakashi rubbed his back and kissed his forehead again and again until Naruto relented and hugged him back.

He nuzzled at his neck, cuddling closer, and his breath eased in a way that indicated the teen had fallen asleep. Kakashi covered him with the blanket and memorized the texture of his skin. He did not expect Naruto to react like that, which meant that the age difference still bothered him.

Or perhaps it was inexperience? Perhaps Naruto wanted to impress him and felt embarrassed by his ignorance?

A memory suddenly flashed in his mind of his first official meeting with Naruto; the teen sulked and pretended to sleep on his backpack, hiding his face from him – and the mocking eyes of his classmates.

Kakashi couldn't stop himself. He hugged Naruto closer, his hold a notch too tight, and breathed him into his lungs as he traced a trail of kisses from his forehead to his cheek. He only relented when Naruto groaned softly in protest.

It will be more challenging in Kumogakure. He would have to be careful.

Kakashi closed his eyes, breathed in Naruto's scent, and fell asleep.

He woke up four hours later, turned off the alarm, and stifled a curse.

The only good thing about morning flights was the lack of traffic.

He sighed and nuzzled at the hair of the teen still wrapped tightly around his chest. "Naruto," he muttered, kissing his forehead. "Wake up."

The teen grumbled and hugged him closer.

"Naruto." He caressed his hair, then ruffled it. "Oi." His hair was too short, so he tugged his ear instead. "If you want coffee, you need to let me go."

Naruto grumbled louder. "Five more minutes," he mumbled.

Kakashi gazed at his phone. Five more minutes would quickly become fifteen, and he did not plan for that kind of delay. "We'll miss the flight."

The teen jumped up. "What? But – "

He did not mean to, but Naruto's reaction was too cute to pass unnoticed. He tried to remain serious, but Naruto's eyes must have caught the humorous glint that Kakashi half-heartedly tried to hide and soured from worried to annoyed. "I thought we're doing coffee and cuddles," he protested quietly.

"I will make you coffee," Kakashi promised. When Naruto pouted, he reached with his hand to caress his cheek. "Aren't you excited to fly?" he reminded him, his voice soft and gentle.

Naruto looked away. "Yeah," he admitted. He grinned. "I'm gonna draw everything."

Kakashi smiled back, then pinched his cheek. "Get off me, then."

Naruto stuck out his tongue, balanced his hand on Kakashi's torso, and pushed him down as he got up. The teen was excited but tried not to show it. He kicked his legs in the air as he ate, grinned for no reason as he drank his coffee, and scowled at him powerfully whenever he caught him smiling back.

Kakashi decided it was probably safer if he drove.

He explained the different stations to Naruto, who frowned and exclaimed that Sakura had already explained it three times, yet still followed him around like a lost duckling, staring at him in awe as he handled the check-in process and navigated the way to the gate. He certainly did not deserve such admiration, and though he explained the entire process as offhandedly as he could, he kept that part to himself.

He did not want to embarrass Naruto… and perhaps that was selfish, but he liked the way the teen looked at him. He held his hand as they walked to the gate, showing him the waiting airplanes and the runway, and reveled in the teen's excitement and curiosity about everything he saw.

This time, he was careful to not dull his spirit with careless statements. Instead, he encouraged his questions and was quick to brush his hair or squeeze his hand whenever he felt Naruto attempting to temper his own enthusiasm or tensing in discomfort.

He kept holding his hand, keeping him close as they stood in line for boarding and as they slowly made their way to their assigned seats, ignoring the stares aimed at them; instead, he focused entirely on Naruto.

The teen bloomed under his careful attention, leaning into his touch and beaming in response to his lightest smile. He did not notice the stares, neither the cruel nor the kind, and Kakashi found himself mesmerized by his shining eyes.

He was sunshine, he realized, pure and bright.

Naruto rearranged his equipment around his seat, making sure he had everything he needed within reach – but couldn't decide what was necessary and what wasn't. Kakashi brushed his hair and was, according to the teen, no help at all.

Eventually, he gave up his storage space and huffed. "Relax, Naruto. It's only going to be five hours. You don't need two books. I doubt you'll read any of them."

Naruto scowled at him. "What are you gonna do five hours, then?"

"Sleep."

Naruto blinked at him. "What?"

"I'm tired."

"How can you sleep," the teen demanded, dumbfounded, "when we're in the air?"

Kakashi laughed softly and tousled his hair and missed the long locks he used to tangle his fingers in. "It's only exciting during the takeoff and landing." He squeezed his nose – causing the teen to blush – "you'll get the hang of it – "

Naruto covered his mouth. "Shh! They're talking!"

Kakashi huffed again and observed the teen as Naruto listened intently to a dull message about the weather. He listened even more intently to the safety instructions and checked every location the stewardess mentioned. He checked his seatbelt – twice – and Kakashi leaned in and nuzzled at his hair. "It's fine. Air travel is the safest mode of traveling. You're fine."

Naruto stiffened, then leaned close and hugged his arm. "M'just making sure," he protested. "Sakura said that a lot of people don't pay attention and then they don't know what to do."

It seemed like Sakura had taken her teasing a notch too far. "You have me. You'll be fine," he promised.

Naruto scrunched his nose. "If the plane crashes, I'd rather have Sasuke."

Kakashi growled half-heartedly just as the plane started moving. Naruto immediately turned to face the window, and Kakashi reached to hold his hand. "We're making our way to the runway. Then we'll accelerate and prepare for takeoff," he explained quietly.

Naruto squeezed his hand and all but smashed his face into the window, leaning as close he could.

"We'll see the sunrise," he mumbled, eyes glued to the glass.

Kakashi caressed his knuckles with his thumb. He observed the teen as the plane picked up speed, noting how his eyes widened when the wheels disconnected from the runway and the plane tilted up, fighting gravity. Naruto's hold of his hand tightened, so he responded in kind, aiming to reassure him with his touch.

The plane continued climbing and climbing, and the world below disappeared under a sea of thick, ever-changing clouds. The sky above was decorated with clouds as thin and amorphous as a brushstroke, light and iridescent. As the indigo sky gave in to delicate blue and blushing pink, the clouds bloomed orange, bright against the paling sky, and the sea of clouds below shone with golden light.

The sun continued to rise, and the plane continued to climb, crossing the second layer of clouds.

Naruto scowled and leaned back. "I can't see anything," he complained. "It's all white."

"We're above the clouds," Kakashi pointed out, relaxing in his chair. "You need to wait for them to clear up or for landing." He helped Naruto push his own chair back and then leaned into his seat and closed his eye. "If they are delivering snacks, you can have my pretzels."

"Ass," Naruto grumbled.

He fumbled with something, grunting in annoyance, so Kakashi opened his eye, observing him in case he needed help.

The teen huffed in what seemed like a success, and the hand cushion that separated them was pushed away. Naruto's hand cupped his cheek as the teen guided him to rest his head on his shoulder. "I'll watch over you this time," Naruto murmured into his ear, caressing his hair. "I love you."

Kakashi shifted his body, leaning a bit closer to Naruto's neck, breathed deeply, and fell asleep.


Naruto decided Kakashi was too jaded to appreciate how good he had it. Flying was awesome.

The seat in front of him had a small screen attached that showed all the new movies – and a lot of old ones he remembered Shikamaru telling him he needed to watch – for free! He watched one movie until the clouds dispersed, and then he spent yet another hour sketching and coloring.

The air stewardess must have taken a liking to him because she got him a pile of chocolate and an extra pretzel bag. She also got him a blanket that Naruto immediately draped over Kakashi's shoulders. The man slept deeply, his breaths soft and hot as they grazed his neck.

Naruto raised his hand and caressed the man's cheek, then brushed the silver hair and rubbed the soft skin behind his ear. A part of him wanted Kakashi to wake up and share his excitement, but his entire body felt warm and fuzzy when he realized how much the man trusted him that he allowed himself to sleep on his shoulder for the whole flight.

He was finally close to him again.

It had been eight months since he had last seen him, yet it was as if Kakashi had never left. His physical presence was as soothing and comforting as it always had been, but so much closer. Before his birthday, Kakashi constantly tried to keep his distance. The most contact he willingly allowed him was a cuddle, but he usually showed affection by ruffling his hair. And now he was so close…

Naruto wanted him closer.

The pilot announced they were about to descend, so Naruto took out his colored pencils and drew what he could see of the new land. Skyscrapers, mostly, and vast, bare mountains, brown and dusty looking even from his vantage point.

The view only got dustier and browner the closer they got. He could spot a few lakes shining against the raw earth but very few trees. How could Kakashi prefer this place to Konoha? The university was practically hidden in a giant forest.

The air stewardess smiled at him and told him to straighten his seat, so he pushed the small button to sit up and then tried to reach for Kakashi's button without waking the man up –

He turned around to find Kakashi already awake, gazing at him with his eye gentle and warm. He caressed his cheek, lowered the armrest, then pushed the button to sit up.

"You're missing the view," he pointed out and nuzzled at his neck.

Naruto huffed, ignoring the way his cheeks heated up. "Good morning to you, too." He pulled his ear, then shifted so his shoulder was more accessible, and started to draw. He leaned back, just slightly, and Kakashi rested his head on his shoulder.

His fingers grazed Naruto's arm. "Hmm. Can I see what you drew later?"

"Eh? But I thought you said flying was really boring," Naruto teased, eyes glued to the world uncovering before him. With every moment passing, Kaminari became clearer, brighter. Hell, he could even spot some green.

"It is," Kakashi muttered dryly. "Still, I want to see what you see. You find beauty in the mundane."

Naruto jumped slightly when the plane began to descend. He breathed shakily when Kakashi's hand gripped his wrist, his long fingers caressing his pulse with the utmost gentleness.

Sketching no longer seemed that important. Naruto's eyes drank the view while his hand shifted to hold Kakashi's hand. "Really mundane, though," he managed, distracted. "It's so brown."

"What you see are the mountain ranges. The forests and rivers are hidden below." Kakashi's voice was soft and soothing against his ear. "The university is located within the largest mountain range in the country. It's very high – and the buildings are carved into the mountains. If you wake up early and climb to the top of the astronomy tower, it looks as if the entire place is hidden within the clouds."

Naruto leaned back. It sounded kind of magical. "Do you get snow?"

"In the winter. The ranges are famous for their thunderstorms, which happen all year round."

They were getting closer and closer, and Naruto's eyes widened in wonder. He planted himself against the glass, leaning both palms on the cool wall. "I can see tiny houses!" he declared, his eyes growing wider. "And a tiny road! And tiny cars!" His breath coated the window, so he wiped it with his fist. "S'like an ant world."

Kakashi chuckled and Naruto's ears burned red. He, quite accidentally, severed his contact with the man. He reached back with his hand, his fingers curled and hesitant.

And sighed in relief when Kakashi held his hand. His hand was lifted and brought against soft lips, and Naruto's breath, once again, coated the window.


notes


Hey guys! Sorry for the late posting – I came back from Kauai last week on a Friday (which I totally forgot because I kinda wished the vacation would never end. Kauai is AMAZING, albeit really expensive) and today my parents decided to surprise me with a birthday party – which was really surprising, since its not my birthday lol

Still, I had an amazing time and I am really thankful to them for… everything, really.

Still, I'm sorry for messing up my schedule! My life has been rather hectic lately, but I promise I'll get back to y'all soon – so thank you so much for your continued support!

Also – I'm so happy y'all liked the NSFW I posted so far! I, um, am not very experienced in writing m/m nsfw, so I did quite a bit of research, but still I was quite nervous about posting it, so I'm glad it landed well!

Still, I'm more than open to suggestions, pointers, and advice of all kinds lol Things will get kinkier from here (which I think we all deserve after that long build-up haha) so you have been… warned?

Anyways, thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart! Please let me know your thoughts and I hope to see you again!